Four-wheel-drive tractor.



J. C. SIMMONS; FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR.

' APPLlCATlON FILED FEB.2. 1917.

i 62 1090 Patented Apr. 9,1918;

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- IN VEN TOR.

WITNESSES A YITOR NE Y.

J. C SIMMONS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2. 1917.

Patented Apr. 9 1918.

4 SHEETS-- EHEET 2. /7// 'INVENTOR.

WITNESSES A TTORNE YS.

J. C SIMMONS FOUR WHEEL DRIVE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2.1917.

Patented Apr. 9, 191&

4 SHEETSSHEET 3- 6 I Rial- I I INVENTOR. 75565 c. 5/M/7 o/vs,

A TTOR NE YS.

WITNESSES LC SIMMONS FOUR WHEEL DRlVE TRACTOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.2. I917- Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4 INVENTOR Jesse C; Sim/710m BY 9? A TTORNEYS.

WITNESSES JESSE c. srinrrons, or BIG earths, irzcneean, assreivon re Tina some nrsitvn shearer. co, or are RAPIDS, Minnie-an.

FOUR-WHEEL-IDEXVE TRACTOR.

Specification of setters Patent.

Patented Apr. $3, Ililllh.

Application filed February 2, 1917. sensitive. Manse.

To all whom it may" concern:

- Be it known that I, Jnssn C. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Big Rapids, Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Four- VVheel-Drive Tractors, of which the fOll0W- ing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in four-Wheel drive tractors.

- The objects of the invention are to provide a tractor having a three point suspension, the, front Wheels being so arranged that they' may tilt transversely of the true tor frame, and to provide a tractor in which lithe pull of the front Wheels is transn'iitted to approximately the center portion of the framc'of the tractor whereby the stresses on the supporting frame and other parts of the mechanism are more evenly distributed.

Further objects, and ob ects relating to details and economiesof construction and operation will definitely appear from the de tailed description to follow.

l accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A. structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a. part of this specification, in Which: I

Figure l is a side elevation of my improved tractor.

Fig. H is an. enlarged detail vertical longitudinal section on the line 2-2 of Fig. H1 is an enlarged detail t vertical section on line 3-8 of 3 6 and ll.

Fig. IV is an enlarged detail longitudinal vertical section of the front wheel driving mechanism and support, taken on line H of Fi V.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail transverse vertical section on .line 5--5 of Figs. I and lV.

Fig'Vl is an enlarged sectional detail on the line (i(3 of Figs. 1 and VII.

i, Fig. Vll is an enlarged longitudinal detail sectional view taken on .me 7-7 of l 1g. VI.

In the drawing similar reference characters efer to similar parts throughout the s as everal ien's and the sectional views are and Ill) at. various speeds and in cp'pos directions, the transmission being provided frame by means of ll-shaped hraces the taken looking in the direction of thelittle arrows at the ends of the section lines.

In the drawings, the frame 1s shown as comprising horizontal channel members 1 having the. rearwardly inclined portions 2 6G and the horizontal re ar extensions 8. l and 5 indicate the front and rear Wheels, respectively, the rear Wheels being supported and driven by the divided rear driving axle 6. The driving axle .6 is rotatably supported in 6 the. tubular casing 7 by means of taper roller bearings 8. A dilterential for the rear driv ing shaft is illustrated at 9 and since the details of this differential form no part of the present invention, the illustration is merely conventional, and further description thereof is therefore believed to be unnecessary.

A Worm gear 10, which forms a of the differentialmechanism, is driven by worm 11 on the rear propeller rear propeller shaft is provid bearings 13 supported by a s 14 mounted on the frame.

15 designates as a whole a. suitable nrniitiple speed and reverse transmission, the deen tails of which form no part of the prescli invention and are not, therefore. illustrated. It is sufficient to state that this transmissien rotates't he driving shaft 16 (see with the usual or suitable means control. The'rear end of the shaft 16 is provided With apinion lfmeshing With the gear 18 cured in the driven shaft, which comprises the rear propeller shaft 20, the intermediate section 21, the front propeller shaft 23 ancithe universal joints 22 and 24. The driven. shaft may be made in one piece by omittingthe universal joints. means of the connections just described. the rear driving asle- 6 may be driven atdifferent speeds and opposite directions as is usual with such axles i 19. indicates as a Whole a suitable motor which is here illustrated as consisting" of an internal combustion engine. v

The front wheels are supported upon the upper ends of the legs of which to the side frame members by means o halts 26. These braces are provided with alined bearings 27 which rotatahly support the front and rcartrunnions Z8 and 29, respcc tively. These trunnions are formed integral 113, 3

a. a w re with and support the cylindrical gear box 30 having the bottom plate 31 and the cap 31'. The bottom plate 31 is spaced upwardly from the bottom of the gear box 30 so as to provide flanges 32 which extend downwardly about the differential housing 33 which has a cylindrical upper portion 3%. At the top of the cylindrical portion 3-1 is an inwardly extending flange 35 forming an aperture 36 which receives a downwardly extending boss 37 on the bottom plate 30. Up: posed annular ball races 38 and 39 are secured in the bottom plate 31 and the flange 35, respectively, bearing balls 40 being interposed between these races. An annular plate +11 is bolted to the boss 37 and extends outwardly beyond theinner edge of the flange 35 to prevent excessive longitudinal movement of the difierential case relative to the gear box 30.

A vertical shaft 4-2 is mounted in tapered roller bearings 43 and 4A: secured in alined central apertures in the bottom plate 31 and cap 31, respectively. A bevel pinion i5 is secured to thd lower end of the shaft 42 and the bevel .gear 46 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 42 and rests upon the annular boss 4:? on the bottom plate 31.

The front end of the front propeller shaft extends through a suitable bearing 46 supported in the hollow trunnion 29 and is provided at its extreme end with a tapered roller bearing 47. The bearing 4:7 is supported from the cap 31 by a bracket 48.

Secured to the shaft 23 between the bearings l6 and 47 is a bevel pinion 49 mesh ing with a bevel gear at. The bevel. pinion l5 on the lower end of the shaft 42 meshes with the bevel gear 50 The bevel gear 50 drives the front dr; g axle 51 through a difierential which is merely conventionally illustrated because the ,etails thereof form no part of the present invention. The driving axle 51 is suitably housed in the axle housin 53 and supported by the combined roller ar. thrust bearings 54;. A. cover plate 55 is secured to the cap 31 above the end of the spindle by means of screws 56.

The connections just recited provide means whereby the front wheels may be driven and may be steered by turning the dill'ercn tial housing 33 relative to the gear casing 30. The steering mechanism is not illustrated for the reason that the details there of form no part of this invention and an j suitable steering mechanism may be employed whereby the differential housing; 33 can be turned relative to the .gear casing 30.

Two braces 57 similar to the braces 25 depend from the frame and support bearings 58. A sleeve 59 is rotatably mounted in the bearing 58 and has a bore 60 therethrough, through which the intermediate section 21 passes, the here being appreciably larger than the shaft in order to allow limited transverse movement of the latter. The sleeve 59 is provided with an annular boss -(51 \3vhich engages the inner ends of the bearings 58. A cylindrical boss 62 extends downwardly and rearwardly from the sleeve 59 and supports one end of the brace 63, the opposite end of this'bracc being piv' otally secured to the bottom of the differential housing by means of a pivot screw 64.

Inioperation, the pull developed by the front wheels is transmitted by the brace 63 to the boss 62 and from the boss 62 through the sleeve; 59 and brace 57 to the frame. The trunnions 28 and 29 provide longitudinal pivot or swivel means for the front wheels whereby either of the front wheels maybe elevated when it encounters an obstruction without materially afiecting the remaining portions of the tractor and reducing the transverse stress upon the tractor frame, and since the sleeve 59 is rotatably mounted in alinement with the trunnions 28 and 29, the brace 63 offers no resistance to the lateral movement of the front wheels. 7

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In structure of the class described, the'combination of a frame, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear driving axles, traction wheels mounted on said driving axles, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, driving connections connecting said motor and said driven shaft, a differential connecting the rear end of said driven shaft with the rear driving axle, a support for said front driving axle comprising a gear box, opposed trunnions for pivotally mounting said gear-box longitudinally of said. frame, bearings for said trunnions supported on said frame, a differential housing having a vertical pivotal connection with said gear box, a differential in said diderential housing for driving said front driving axle, means in said gear box for connecting the front end of said driven shaft with said last named differential, and-means for transmitting the pull of said front traction wheels to said frame comprising a sleeve, means for rotatably supporting said sleeve, a brace connected to said sleeve, and a vertical pivot connecting said brace with said differential housing.

2. A tractor comprising a frame, a motor mounted thereon, front and rear driving axles, traction Wheels mounted on said driving axles, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, driving connections between said motor and said driven shaft, a driving connection between said rear driving axle and the rear end of said driven shaft, a support for said front driving shaft comprising a gear but swiveled longitudinally of said frame, a. diderential housing drivingvaxle comprising a member having,

having bearings for said front driving axle and a vertical pivotal connection'with said gear box, a differential in said differential housing for driving said front driving axle, and ears in said gear box connecting the front end of said driven shaft with said differential. v

3. In a structure of the, class described, the combination of a frame, front and rear driving axles, traction wheels mounted on said driving axles, a motor, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, driving connections between said motor and said driven shaft comprising a transmission, a

support for said front driving axle comprising a member having front and rear trunnions for pivotally mounting it 1011- gitudinally of said frame, said rear trunnion being hollow and having a bearing for the front end of said driven shaft, a secondv memberhaving bearings for said front driving axle, a vertical pivotal connection between said first member and said second member, driving connections between the front end of said driven shaft and said front driving shaft comprising a differential, and

means for transmitting the pull of said front traction wheels to the central portion of said frame comprising a sleeve member surrounding said driven shaft, means for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, a brace having one end connected to said sleeve member, and means for pivotally connecting the other end of said brace to said second member.

i. In a structure of the, class described, the cmnbination-of a frame, front and rear driving axles, traction wheels mounted'on" said driving axles, a motor, a driven shaft, driving connections between said motor and said driven shaft, a support for sand front means for pivotally mounting it longitudinail of said frame, a second member having bearings for said front driving axle, a vertical pivotal connection between said first member and said second member, driving connections between-the front end of said' driven shaft and said front drivingaxle,

and means for transmitting the pull of'said front traction wheels to the central portion.

of said frame comprising a sleeve member surrounding said driven'shaft, means for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, a brace havingv one end'connected to said sleeve member, and means fc-ripivotally con-,

nectiug the other end of said brace tosaid second member.

In a structure ofthe class." described, the combination'ofa frame, front "and rear driving axles, traction wheels men-motion: said driving axles, a motor, a, driven shaft,

drivingconnections between said motorand sa d driven shaft, a support; for said front driving axle comprising a member having means for pivotally mounting it longitudinally of said frame, a second member having bearings for said front driving axle, a ver tical pivotal connection between said first member and said second member and driving connections between the front end of said driven shaft and said front driving axle.

6, In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, a motor mounted thereon, a driven shaft extending l0 ngitu dinally of said frame, driving connections between said motor and said driven shaft comprising a transmission, a front driving axle, traction wheels thereon, means for supporting said front driving axle comprising a member havingopposed trunnions, longitudinally alined bearings for said'trunnions, a second member having bearings for said front driving axle, a vertical pivotal connection between said first member and said second member, driving connections between said driven shaft and said front driving axle, comprising a differential, and means for transmitting the pull of said front traction wheel to said frame comprising a sleeve member, longitudinally alined bearings for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, and a brace connecting said sleeve and said front driving axle support having a vertical pivotal connection with said front driving axle support.

' 7. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a frame, a motor mounted thereon, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of said frame, driving connections betweensaid motor andsaid driven shaft, a front driving axle, traction wheels thereon, means for supporting said front driving axle comprising a member swivelecl longitudinally of said frame, a second member having bearingsfor said front driving axle, a vertical pivotal connection between said first member and said secondlmember, driving connections betwee'nsaid'. driven shaft and said front driving axle, and means for transmitting the pull of said front traction wheel to said frame comprising a supporting member, longitudinally alined bearings for said supporting member, and a brace connecting said supporting member and said front driv ing axle support having a vertical pivotal connection with said front driving axle support. H v v v 8.111 a structure of the class described, the combination -ofa'frame, a front driving axle, tractionwh'eels thereonimcans for supporting ffrjont driving axle comprising "a member swiveled longitudinally of gait. 'fram a second member having bearingsfor said'fr'ont driving'axle, a vertical'pivotal I co'nnectionbetween said first member and i said second member, driving connections be- ,tween sa d dr ven shaft and said mg axle comprising a"differential," and.

front driv-j' V 130,,

means for transmitting the pull of said front traction wheel to said frame comprising a sleeve nieniber, longitudinally alined bearings for rotatably supporting said sleeve member, and a brace connecting said sleeve and said front driving axle support having a vertical pivotal connection with said front driving axle support.

9. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a supporting frame, a motor mounted thereon, a multiple speed and reverse transmission driven by said 1110- tor, a rear propeller shaft, a rear driving aisle inoui d on said frame, a differential connecting said rmr propeller shaft to said rear driving" axle, driving connections between said transmission. and said rear propoller she t, a front driving axle, an axle housing therefor, a differential housing, a pivoted gear casing; on a vertical axis above said differential housing and pivotally supported thereon, oppositely extending trune :Lseaiee nions onv said gear ease, longitudinally alined bearings for said trunnions supported on said frame, a front propeller shaft ex tending through one of said trunnions, driving connections between said front propeller shaft and said front driving axle, comprising a differential, an intermediate section connecting said front and rear propeller sliai ts,'a sleeve surrounding said intermediate section, means for rotatably supporting said sleeve, and a forwardly and downwardly extending brace rigidly connected to said s eve and connected to said Wheel support by a vertical pivot.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two Witnesses.

JESSE C. SIMMONS.

Witnesses FRED A. ASHLEY, ALMA-A. JOHNSON. 

